Growing up in the West, concepts like individuality, personal freedom, and self-actualization are been so drilled into us from such an early age that it's easy to forget that these are culturally-bound values. In, say, collectivist Southeast Asian Confucianism, it's acquiescence to the greater good, filial piety and respect for chain-of-command that make a person considerate, caring, selfless and peaceful. In a word: civilized.
Ever since Vietnam splashed into the outside world the two ways of looking at things haven't so much resolved themselves with each other as cramped their style to coexist. I haven't met anyone my age who isn't struggling between living their life the way they want to vs. the way their parents want them to in one way or another.
And everyone seems to be making different choices, different concessions - everyone expects to go on to get married, have kids and live thoroughly respectable Vietnamese lives. But late at night, in the packed and steamy dance clubs, Saigon's youth throw their up thier hands, jump to the beat, and sing along with full-throated glory to what has become an Indochinese vintage sensation:
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1 comment:
I wish I could say that my life in Western culture is separated from expectations from my elders! Perhaps the manipulation is just disguised a little better.
love and miss you my dear viet!
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